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The media influence on body image paper
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Do I look fat? That’s the question we all ask ourselves when we are trying on a new pair of jeans. Media, such as, movies, newspapers, TV shows, and also ads being posted on billboards all talking about weight problems and how to lose weight by joining a fitness club or take their weight pill to lose weight. As a society we have become so obsessed with our weight problems that we become depressed, we worry more about losing the weight instead of being healthy, and we also become very uncomfortable with ourselves. My dear friend Annie, who is an English teacher at Taft High School, struggles with her weight. Annie is a person who loves to set goals and is very good at in achieving her personal goals. Annie is one of my close friend and she is …show more content…
Countless of times I have seen my friend Annie to dislike eating in front of me thinking that I would judge her for what she is eating. I find that a mental issue that needs to be addressed. Many Americans have become uncomfortable with themselves and with others. This causes them to keep more distance from other people and also changes the way they look at themselves. We are all wonderful people who have been put on this earth with a purpose to achieve and be the best person we can be. Being the next thinnest person does not make you any different from any other American. We all live together in this earth as one body and we all have many different ways and opinions that make us who we are. We should no longer let the media or anyone else bully us to be someone else that we are not, but to live our lives free and continue to be the wonderful person we are at heart. A third effect of our obsession with weight is focusing on losing weight for looks instead of losing for health. Not all publicized weight programs are for everyone. Many Americans get hooked on all the weight pill, that make you …show more content…
This is an effect of all pills and shakes Annie has took in order to help her lose weight, but instead of helping her it made her worse. Hannah Lobel points out a perfect fact, “We’re sending people into prisons of self- loathing that have them seeking refuge in yo-yo diets that feed a multibillion-dollar weight- loss industry but do nothing to keep the pounds off and, in fact, often contribute to health problems later” (Page 56). All these weight control programs only help you for a limited time only while later on in life you have other issues and the weight control programs continue to become richer. I myself am one of the many Americans who used to be obsessed with being the next guy with the six packs. But my mom broke it down to me that everyone in this earth is unique in their own way whether it be the jokes someone else tells, or even the charm of one’s heart to help others in need. We are not special by what’s shown on the outside, but it’s what’s inside of us that make us a wonderful person. Going through life everyday worrying about your weight is not the way to
The article “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance” is written by Mary Ray Worley, a member of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. She writes of her firsthand experience as a “fat person” in society. Throughout the article, Worley explains what it is like to be obese and describes the way society treats those who have a weight problem. She attacks the idea of dieting, criticizes medical professionals for displaying an obscured view of health risks, and defends the idea of exercising to feel good rather than exercising to lose weight. Unfortunately, her article seems to reflect only own opinions and emotions rather than actual facts and statistics.
Cultural factors are a contributing factor in the cause of the obesity epidemic in America as it continues to be a reoccurring topic of conversation due to a high prevalence of overweight individuals. Culture, the learned values, beliefs, attitudes and practices in which are well accepted by society, is looked upon as a fast-paced lifestyle in the U.S. compared to other cultures. This expeditious lifestyle where convenience, easiness, and quick fixes seem to be right for any situation supports America’s obesigenic society, leading to increased health problems in the future. In addition, social and physical norms are also components of culture that tend to exude pressure on individuals, constituting a somewhat stereotypical reflection of oneself. Due to the composition of the fast-paced American lifestyle and unrealistic expectations for physical appearance, culture has become a compelling force in the expanding obesity community.
Obesity in the United States continues growing alarmingly. Approximately 66 % of adults and 33 % of children and teenagers in the US are overweight. Obesity is the result of fat accumulated over time due to the lack of a balanced diet and exercise. An adult with a BMI (body mass index) higher than thirty percent is considered obese (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011, pg. 271).
There was a ninth-grade girl who seemed to be like every other ninth-grade girl, but she wasn’t, she was different from the rest. She was five-foot four and weighed a measly ninety-five pounds. You could see her bones wrapped up by a thin layer of coarse skin, but there was no muscle to be found. She lied to everyone who asked her if she had a problem. This girl didn’t eat a healthy diet, didn’t exercise her body in a healthy way, and she was slowly withering away into a walking corpse. This girl was me. I was suffering from a disease known as anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a disease that has three main features: refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, a strong fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image (Anorexia Nervosa). Anorexia nervosa is a fascinating difficult-to-treat disease that affects the body and the mind.
In conclusion, society’s influence sparks the initial thought that skinny is pleasurable and desirable. Adolescents will buy into this misconception that they get from the media and society. When this misconception is bought into, it can cause serious consequences as the individual looks for extreme measures of weight control. This weight control can be contained by helping individuals struggling with Anorexia and Bulimia fix their distorted view of themselves, eliminating the negative influence one media source at a time.
According to the American Heart Association, 23.9 million children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese. In addition to them, 154.7 million adults are pudgy. That means more than one-third of children and two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight (Pages 1-3). Many Americans know about the high rates of obesity in our country. Michelle Obama, along with several other politicians and health professionals, push for recognition of these facts. They believe too many citizens are overweight and something has to change. The statistics raise several questions and problems, but of these conflicts, which ones are worth solving?
Becoming healthy should lead to happiness; however an unhealthy lifestyle and attitude can lead to depression. Anorexia Nervosa is a life-threatening disorder that not only affects the body, but it affects the mind. It is a mental disorder that creates an unhealthy obsession with someone’s weight and body image, leading to people who look nothing more than skin and bones. Television, magazines and the internet seem to criticize people’s looks and body types, however could they be representing a small population? There are a large amount of people who have fallen into obesity – perhaps the media are simply promoting a healthier diet and lifestyle. Without this push to become healthy, the amount of people becoming obese will increase drastically.
...to them to love themselves as they as are is the first step in taking back control from the media. The media would like for them to conform to unrealistic standards of beauty for their own selfish benefit to solicit their industry. However if we don’t give in to medias perception of perfection the media will have to change.Certain companies like Dove have realized the medias negative effect on adolescent girls and has taking matters into their own hands by publishing a new ad with healthier looking model. This ad is one step in the right direction to building back up young girls self esteem and making them comfortable with their bodies. Women will never stop wanting to improve themselves however by embracing all different beautiful attributes women have they will refrain from practicing unhealthy methods and will work towards realistic goals that will make them happy.
Everyday Americans die from the diseases they carry from obesity. Many Americans over eat because their social problems or because they are hereditary. Many plans have been discussed but finding the solution is the problem. Junk foods and unhealthy beverages have corrupted children’s minds all over the nation and putting a stop on it could lead to other benefits. Unhealthy foods and drinks should be taxed and healthy foods should be advertised more to help prevent American obesity.
Imagine a world where a school aged child can step out of their school and walk into a McDonalds. A world where soda companies make millions of dollars a year by placing soda machines in schools. A world where 30.5 percent of adults are considered obese. A world where obesity is killing more people than smoking. What if I told you this world is not in your imagination but is the world we live in today?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In our society today, people would rather see what celebrities are up to than what is going on with our health plan. Watching the news makes us aware of the latest trend, new gadget, who’s in rehab, or who has an eating disorder. In the eyes of society, women like Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, and Megan Fox are the epitome of perfection. What girl wouldn’t want to look like them? Unfortunately, this includes most of the girls in the US. Through TV shows, commercials, magazines or any form of advertising, the media enforces a certain body type which women emulate. The media has created a puissant social system where everyone must obtain a thin waist and large breasts. As a society, we are so image obsessed with the approval of being thin and disapproval of being overweight, that it is affecting the health of most women. Women much rather try to fit the social acceptance of being thin by focusing on unrealistic body images which causes them to have lower self esteem and are more likely to fall prey to eating disorders, The media has a dangerous influence on the women’s health in the United States.
...o weight problems and a tiny waist may become overwhelming at times, but when you look at all of the factors that play into your choices of fad dieting or healthy diet and exercise the choice becomes a lot easier. Fad dieting comes with the risks of disease, diminished appearance, and doesn’t even provide the long term desired affects. Healthy diet and exercise helps cure the body and keep it going strong, enhances the beauty you already possess, and has long lasting results that give you the body of your dreams. So when your looking at the skinny bodies on the magazines stating that “they lost 15 pounds in 4 days”, try to remember what those 15 pounds may have cost them. When your looking at the person that worked hard with proper diet an exercise and has that certain glow about them remember that although it is tough at first, it is better done the healthy way.
...th the modern era defining beautiful as having less weight. (WiseGeek, n.d.) Another argument is that thin is a feminist issue and they just use this as a headline grabber because 39.4 million of Americans suffer from obesity and the British NHS survey of Disordered Eating noted 620 hospital treatments for anorexia or bulimia (with some patients registered twice or more) for 2005 to 2006 as opposed to 17,458 for the same period for obesity. They also argue that more material is being saved when models are thinner and clothes look more elegant and drapes effortlessly on skinnier models. Most models and designers argue that models are not supposed to eat and they are meant to be skinny to sell more clothes or make them look more appealing.
People react differently depending on their own traits. Studies have shown that women identify the media as the major source of the perceived social pressure to maintain a thin body image. Male body image suffers as well. When men are exposed to unrealistic male bodies, they can suffer from the same symptoms as females. People should not let the media negatively influence their bodies. The public needs to view the media for what it’s worth…pure entertainment. Media’s depiction of a “normal” body type portrays a standard of beauty that is unattainable. Both women and men are suffering from trying to reach these unattainable goals and are suffering from low self-esteem, depression and eating disorders. This is a huge epidemic and hopefully one day it will change. The media needs to promote healthy lifestyles and show men and women of all shapes and sizes that they can feel good about themselves. The “real size” people in the world, will then be able to stop feeling pressured by the media to obtain a certain standard body
Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among teenagers. With 80% of teen females and 15% of teen males being or attempting to be anorexic, it is surprising that it is not higher up on the list. Anorexia is the most common negative view shown on media. On the social media site Tumblr, pro-anorexic blogs have become a popular trend to follow and many show images of models with captions reading "I want to be able to sit down and have my thighs not touch," (My Pro). The truth is, however, that the average model is 23% under their ideal weight. The average US model weighs 117 pounds and is 5'11" while the average US woman weighs 140 pounds and is only 5'4". This causes perspective to see those far too skinny as beautiful and the normal weight to seem more than it is. In a recent study when asked if they were overweight, 75% of the women answered yes and only 25% of them were. (Perfect) Social media has swayed beliefs of the past by making the thin want to be thinner and those who believe themselves to be overweight feel as if reaching their correct BMI is impossible.